This box came about in response to an experience which almost caused the wetness to be on the wrong side of my chest waders.
It was a Saturday morning around 11 AM, but it was far from a typical Saturday. I was at one of my favorite lakes and had waded maybe 100, 120 yards out into the water. This really wasn't unusual for me despite my love/hate affair with water. You see, I have these moments while I am wading in murky water when near anxiety grips me as I suddenly wonder what's below. I have to actually stop and calm my nerves when this occurs. (Remind me someday to explain how I think this got started originally.) This is a factor which lent itself to making what would be a funny experience for some into a spine-tingling experience for me.
It was a comfortable spring morning with the temperature hovering around 72 degrees F., and the sun was shining brightly. The water was as still as glass because there was virtually no wind at all. Most fishermen I know hate "glass" water, but to me it just means alter my tactics. My opinion on bad conditions is that since the fish can't pack up and leave the lake, they're still there and it becomes my job to make them bite. Period.
As I walked through the lake this day, the only sound was the water I was displacing as even the birds were strangely quiet. There were no people fishing this popular spot on a beautiful Saturday morning and that itself should've put my nerves on edge, but it didn't. There's a highway just over a mile from where I was and even the traffic that morning was surprisingly still. Put all these factors together: It's a sunny Saturday morning at about 11 on a popular fishing spot and no one was there, the birds aren't singing, the wind isn't blowing, the water is absolutely still and the only noise comes from me touching the water. Got it?
I don't know what you do on those days...some pray, some think out problems...others just watch the water. On this day I hadn't realized it but my mind had just emptied. I was lulled not into thoughtful contemplation, but just nothingness with not a thought in my head. I barely noticed as I repeatedly cast my size 10 Zug Bug, hooked and released Bluegills with such repitition that it didn't require me to pay much attention.
BOY what a mistake.
I didn't see a wake, I didn't see a shadow, I saw nothing until a Musky at least 36 inches in length (I've caught several of that size and I'm familiar with the length) and very heavy in the belly leapt into the air, completely clearing the water no more than four feet away from me and just to my right, splashing back into the water with the sound of a thunderous handclap!
I'll describe my reaction as this: delicately freaked out. With my heart pounding and my hands trembling I managed to bite off the Zug Bug and tie on a large popper in hopes of getting the toothy predator to hit, but after managing a few measly casts and a few pops I had to make my way to shore in order to let the nerves in my legs settle a bit.
I got in a bit more fishing that day but my embarassment pushed me to tie flies with which I could hopefully someday gain a measure of revenge. These were those first flies.
Left side left to right:
2 flies I came up with in desiring a large but relatively lightweight fly to throw. They are Body Fur and Big Fly Fiber (with the idea this, like rope in a Gar fly, would help grab the teeth of the fish) with eyes added and Krystal Flash through the body. The brown one patterned to look like a Sucker, the other simply olive over white and they're tied on #2 streamer hooks
2 Bucktail Golden Shiners also on #2 streamer hooks
1 Bucktail and Peacock Shad also on #2 streamer hook
4 Polar Aire streamers, chartreuse over white with rainbow flash Angel Hair, tied on #2 4xL streamer hooks
5 "Bassworms" made from hackle, rubber legs and rabbit hair, tied on #2 4xL streamer hooks
Bottom Row A bunch of Polar Hair streamers in Alewife, Shad and Shiner patterns (with one Black Nosed Dace for variety:) ) all tied on a size 4 offset point, curved nymph hook because that's supposed to minimize fouling of the wing around the hook. Maybe it's my casting but they foul more than the streamers tied on the #2 streamer hooks.
Gather 'round kids, 'cause uncle Mark is about to show you how to be ready for when the big one is lurkin' just beyond that patch of grass, that one over there, near the sunken log. He's got a big ol' scar down his side from where sumthin' tried ta eat 'im, but he was just too tough.
Today that big boy is just starin' at you and darin' you to toss anything his way, anything at all. Not only do you have to get through the weeds but you've gotta get 'round the wood, then you've gotta offer him a meal worth comin' outta that nice, shady, comfy ambush spot from where he just opens up and snaps down any creature not big enough to eat him first, which means almost everything in the water around him is fair game.
He's gonna laugh at your little nymphs and dry flies. Your precious 4 weight fly rod will become his toothpick. You need not only to bring a rod with enough backbone to haul a brick up the side of a building, but flies that old boy sees as temptin' as you see that 18 oz sirloin gettin' char marks over maple wood charcoal in your grill right now.
These are those flies, all tied by me except where noted. Left side, left to right from top to bottom:
2 divers I made using half a foam cutout designed for floating Clousers with white hackle and red Krystal Flash attached to 2/0 bass stinger hooks
10 rabbit hair Pike flies of various color combinations on 2/0 saltwater hooks
4 Morrish Mice made with hackle instead of deer hair because like so many, I can't leave well enough alone, tied on size 6 streamer hooks
2 large leech flies sent to me by my friend Ray (letumgo) from Fly Tying Forum.
Right side, left to right from top to bottom:
2 rows of Calcasieu Pig Boats, in colors for whatever occasion, tied on 1/0 and 2/0 Bass stinger hooks, and yes altered from the original (Mine's pretty much Wooly Buggers with extra long hackle and rubber legs)
2 sliders of this pattern (4th picture down) which I bought at International Angler
4 Burblers that are inserted in the box tail to tail for space and on size 8 bass stinger hooks
2 Hot Clown pattern Dahlberg Divers on size 2 streamer hooks
2 generic mice on 1/0 bass stinger hooks
You don't stuff a box with flies like this and expect it to close easy...even a Bugger Barn. It sits open like this 'til I force it shut, which I don't do less I'm carryin' it in my vest. Don't wanna squash all the goods. That'd be like smashin' the juice out of a hamburger to make it cook faster. What?
The Beetle Spin and its many imitations...often overlooked, always effective!
Little more than a pint-sized safety pin spinnerbait, this lure is one that I forget lives in my tackle bag just long enough to forget how well it catches fish. This has a bright side however, because every time I tie one on I get to relive the amazement I feel when I am reacquainted with its fish catching ability.
If you've ever used the full-sized safety pin style spinnerbaits (so named because they resemble an opened safety pin with a hunk of rubber or plastic on one end and a shiny, spinning blade on the other) to catch Largemouth or Smallmouth bass you know why this style of lure is in every serious bass fishermans' armory. The strobing flash and water moving thump-thump-thump of that spinning blade calls fish from a distance with the tease of an easy meal involving an injured minnow. When the fish gets close enough it sees something near the flash that looks like an even bigger meal than the blade promised.
It's an extremely versatile lure. You can burn it in at the waters surface fast enough to create a foam, swim it just beneath the surface to create a bulge, swim it well below the surface either in a steady or variable speed retrieve, and you can let it drop to the bottom and basically drag it back to you over the rocks and through the grass and wood. Each approach has its time and place and some enterprising fishermen have created even more tactical uses for the safety pin spinnerbait. It's a great choice for introducing a fisherman to using lures because it is so easy to work, combining the features of the best all around lure, the plastic jig, with the second (or to some third) best lure the spinnerbait.
That brings us to one of my favorite lures, the Beetle Spin. That was the name brand which popularized the mini safety pin spinner, but other brand companies make this happy little fish catcher. One of the most popular other brands is named Uncle Buck's Panfish Creatures. You can also make your own (shhhh... don't let the companies know I said that) by buying the blade and arm assembly from any well-stocked bait store, big box retailer or online distributor. It has a clip release similar to the one on most fishing license holders and you can put that through the eye of a jig, then you tie on at the "elbow" of the spinner arm.
This lure in 1/8 and 1/16 ounce sizes catches panfish, bass, walleyes, trout and I'm sure somebody out there has caught fish on it that aren't on that list. The blade at that weight is about the size of a mans' fingernail, and the plastic body that provides the illusion of a meal on the hook is kinda like a swimming octopus that has only two legs. Bulbous on one end tapering to two thin legs on the other. It often has a big dot on the "head" end, suggesting perhaps one big eye. I don't believe the legs offer a great deal of action, but they offer enough to get the interest of even an inactive fish.
A plus to this tiny titan is the ability to remove the provided plastic body and replace it with another of your choice, live bait or even to tie a fly on the jig hook. This lure goes a long way for the adventurous fisherman.
I was recently given a Bass Pro gift certificate by a friend and picked up a bunch of these spinnerbaits to use this season, and this time I intend to put them to work!
Ghost of the Flats and Golden Bone are two of its very appropriate nicknames… Golden Bone being a comparison to the well-known and highly sought after saltwater Bonefish. Some of its proper names include Mirror, Grass and Leather… in Poland it’s Karp dziki a. sazan, in Greece Kyprínos, in India Soneri masha, in Hawaii and Japan, Koi. In America, we usually just call it Carp. It’ll break your heart given half a chance.
They're fished by a variety of methods...doughball, boilies, corn, jugs, flies...but don't think that makes the big ones easy to catch, or even the small ones in clear water.
As a species Carp originated in Asia, where the culturing of Carp dates back to around 7 B.C., but in addition to natural dispersal they were brought to Europe as a food fish hundreds of years ago by the Romans, and in the mid to late 1800’s were introduced to North America where they spread quickly. Carp can now be found on every continent and in around 59 countries. Although primarily a warm water fish, Carp can be found in cool trout streams as well as lakes, ponds and rivers throughout any area in which they occur. They are omnivorous feeders, which explain why they are more often found in areas with weeds, mud or a combination of these than in bare bottomed stretches. However, Carp will school to sift large soft flats for food, alert to the slightest shadow or movement overhead. They are geared for bottom-feeding with an under slung mouth, but can often be seen sipping seeds or bugs from the surface. Their diet includes the proverbial “anything they can fit in their mouths”, so often said of more predacious species, but more accurately applied to the scrounging types. Berries, nymphs, crayfish, vegetation, seeds, worms, minnows, snails and more form their common diet.
Carp spawn when the waters warm in the spring, and some small ponds are kept continuously muddy by the amorous roiling of trios of fish, a female followed by two males through the shallows. The number of eggs laid varies with the size of the female, but a large adult can lay up to 2 million, which hatch in 3 to 6 days depending on the temperature. Small Carp are preyed upon by other fishes, but grow rapidly to a size which keeps them safe from most piscine predators. (Though I’ve heard that at two to three pounds they are excellent bait for Muskellunge and Flathead catfish.)
The group of Carp which most anglers picture when the name “Carp” is mentioned include the Common, Mirror and Leather Carp, all variations of Cyprinus carpio. Even the lovely and often quite expensive (up to hundreds of thousands of dollars for top show specimens and breeders) Koi is just another variation on carpio. Cyprinus carpio can be found at 10 pounds quite commonly, making it an excellent target for the inland fly fisher who wants to tangle with a big fish. In fact, the odds are good that if you can regularly find 10 pounders in your body of water, 20 pounders are in there too. Common carp may live in excess of 47 years and weigh over 75 pounds.
The all-tackle world record was landed in 1987 from Lac de St. Cassien, France, and weighed in at 75 pounds 11 ounces. [url="http://www.carphunters.com/Artikler/thaicarp.htm"]The Cambodian Giant Barb[/url] is considered the world’s largest Carp species, reputed to reach some 300 pounds! There are many other species of Carp, including the Asian Big-Headed and Silver Carps, currently causing serious concern as they head steadily toward the Great Lakes of North America after escaping rearing ponds along the Mississippi River during flooding. As evidenced by their worldwide distribution, Carp are survivors!
These are tremendously wary fish. Have you ever approached a muddy shoreline, only to see huge wakes rocketing away by the time you get to within 15 feet? Most likely they were Carp, alerted by your vibrations. In clear water, their excellent eyesight combined with their sensitivity to movement and vibration means you must practice moving very slowly and softly to get close. Normally, standing quietly on a muddy or sandy bottom between shore and the inside weed line for a few moments will allow the fish to resume normal behavior, rooting their way through looking for a meal. When standing completely still, I’ve had them literally go through my legs! A faster way to begin fishing for them is to find an active group and begin casting very lightly toward the fish that is closest to you. There has been some discussion as to which is quicker to strike, a cruising Carp or a sitting fish. In my experience, fish that are just hanging there are sometimes nearly impossible to get a positive reaction from, while the cruisers are looking for a bite, and more readily respond to your fly.
In general, due to the sensitivity and wariness of the fish, you’ll need to lead a cruiser by several yards to keep from spooking it. If you have picked out your target fish, which you should do for your best chance at hooking one, check out its path and respond accordingly. If it is following the edge of the weeds in 2 feet of water, cast 10 yards ahead to give your fly time to settle. (This is in reference to bottom fishing.) As the fish approaches within about 3 feet or so, give it the slightest of twitches. The Carp will see it, and if it looks good, will take. You’ll get takes in murky water too, so don’t bypass the chance just because of cloudiness. However, sight fishing for them is a real adrenaline rush. That’s hard part number one: getting the take. Hard part number two? Getting a good hookset. Carp have tough, rubbery mouths that require either a very sharp hook, a very solid hookset (maybe two or three) or both.
I have literally lost more Carp than I’ve landed due to a bad hookset or dull hook. It is really frustrating to have 30 yards peeled off only to have the hook come out, and I am far too acquainted with the feeling. Keep your hooks sharp! That should be a given with any fisherman of any type of approach, but few of us take it as seriously as we should, including me. Once you spook that Carp, it will probably spook the whole school in its fright, and even if they don’t all leave, you shouldn’t expect another hit for a while.
Hard part number 3 is just landing the beast! Fighting big Carp on a fly rod especially the first couple of runs, is similar to fighting someone standing there with a hand on the end of your rod trying to jerk it out of your hand. I have seen many bait fishers lose their rod by not paying attention while Carping when the fish hits and yanks the rod into the water! I almost lost one this way myself, but was able to chase the rod and grab it just before it hit the water, at which point the line snapped instantly. I’ve done fine with my 6 weight, but if you are specifically out for Carp I recommend an 8 with a leader based on the water you’re fishing, keeping in mind the suddenness of the first run. On average a 6 pound 4 or 5x tippet should do you fine unless there’s cover for it to use against you.
When a Carp takes your fly, you are already a step ahead because the rod is in your hand already, but don’t take that for granted. I saw one guy get his rod pulled from his hand by a Carp that he didn’t know had taken his nymph. He was able to grab it from the water though. After you set your hook, just let it run if you don’t have snags to worry about. Have your drag set correctly before you catch the first fish and don’t play with it during the fight unless you really need to. Set the hook and hold on. Let it run and when it pauses you can start trying to turn it. With smaller fish you will be able to move it, but once it hits 10 pounds or so, all you’ll accomplish is sending it blistering into a second attempt to reach the next time zone. This may happen several times before you get to see the fish, but after you’ve tired it out, your best bet is to try and beach it. Carp are very slippery, and even if you can hoist it up in your hand, you’ll probably drop it while removing the hook.
You also don’t want to try and lip a Carp because if you go too far into its mouth you’ll reach the crushing plates it uses to smash up clams and crayfish and such. I once did this with a fish of about 4 pounds, and while I didn’t lose a finger or anything, it was startling enough to put me on guard from that day forward. A larger fish could probably have done some real damage. If it’s a small fish you can pick up in one hand, you can probably unhook it without a problem. This is one of the biggest reasons I smash the barbs on my hooks: easy release. I don’t have to remove the fish from the water at all to get the hook out no matter what the size.
When you see Carp slurping at the surface, look closely to see what they are feeding on. You can often get them to take on the surface just by giving them what they are already feeding on. Floating seeds, floating bugs, bread pieces, they are all fair game. Toss an adult dragonfly imitation in the midst (lightly!) of some surface feeders and if you don’t spook them, you’ll find that more than Bass and Bluegills will smash a dragon. When Mulberries are ripe, you will always find a Carp or 2 (or a dozen) parked beneath a Mulberry bush that overhangs the water. They love those staining berries and I don’t blame them! I like to grab a handful for myself while I’m out there! When you find this situation, a fly tied to look like a mulberry is a killer. While this next method does brings some controversy, tossing bits of White bread to Carp in order to get them feeding on it, then casting a Bread fly is another great way to get them at the surface. Carp are an amazing fish, not given their respect widely in America probably due to their abundance.
However, in the UK Carp top the list of game fish, and rightfully so. They are hard to sneak up on, harder not to spook with a cast, fight like a Pit Bull dog, and according to many taste very good when taken from clean water or bought in the market. In addition, they present the best chance for an inland fisher in America to regularly catch fish on the fly rod that weigh 5, 10 even 20 pounds! Test yourself fly fisher… chase the “Golden Bone.”
Bread fly (Deer hair packed and trimmed square or piece of yarn)
Mulberry (think waterproofed Sucker Spawn in Grape and/or Red)
Cottonwood Seed fly (A cdc feather or waterproofed marabou with a bit of Black dubbing at the end works!)
You can definitely catch Carp on lures too, particularly plastic jigs. Work a Crappie jig slowly across the bottom near feeding Carp and they will take note.
You may think that only a few ethnic groups of the world value Carp as a meal, but try some of these recipes and you may join that group of Carp connoisseurs!
P.S. I thought I'd add my favorite Carp story. It was about 45 degrees out, very windy and raining. I was fishing a small city pond for bass, tossing a 4" Blue and Silver Rapala floater. I was just about to duck out of the cold when something broke water and created a White water wake from about 3 feet away from my lure! It was a wake more violent than any Musky, Pike or bass I've ever seen. It hit the Rapala and when I set the hook buried itself deep in the weeds. It too ka godd 7 or 8 minutes to get it to come out of the weeds, and after two more hard runs, I reeled in...
...a 9 pound Common Carp! Most amazingly of all, it had swallowed the Rapala completely. I picked up the fish, and when viewed from the side, the lure could not be seen, it was that deep in the fish's mouth! It took awhile to get that one loose, but it swam away strongly afterward. Carp rock!
Hi, I'm Mark La Roi. You can find my fish adventures on the web under the screen name "luvinbluegills". I am a Christian before anything else, and fishing has been a part of my life since I was too young to remember it. I fly fish (and tie flies), spin fish, bait fish, keep aquariums and enjoy just about everything fish, so I made this blog as an outlet for my favorite hobby. You can also visit my other site (including blog) at MarkLaRoi.com.
Enjoy the outdoors and keep them clean, healthy and available for our next generation and the generations to follow.
